Honestly, this is the first Burroughs show that I've liked since 2009. I think they sing wonderfully this year and I like the song choices and theme a lot
So, I just checked out John Burroughs on YouTube. They were good, but it is NOT what we usually get out of them. Personally, it was a tad disappointing. As always, they sing great, but the choreography and the concept were a little lacking by comparison to recent years. It jut didn't seem to have that typical Burroughs "POP!" that their shows typically do.
You must not know Burroughs very well then. The poor quality video you saw was just the beginning of their show which is still very much evolving. Burroughs always has something additional up their sleeve. In 2010, they swapped out a song, 2011 with Firework they literally had fireworks, and last year they had an explosion and cool dress lighting effects. The video you saw isn't all that Burroughs has so I wouldn't be so quick to write them off as "lacking." Their theme, in my opinion, this year is really deep and truly fresh for show choir, especially when it seems the majority of show choirs think they have to go "dark" to tell a story or put on an entertaining show.
So, I just checked out John Burroughs on YouTube. They were good, but it is NOT what we usually get out of them. Personally, it was a tad disappointing. As always, they sing great, but the choreography and the concept were a little lacking by comparison to recent years. It just didn't seem to have that typical Burroughs "POP!" that their shows typically do. It felt very Midwest and classical, which just isn't what I'm used to from them. I think I am going to finally make my predictions, having seen all groups but Homewood and Burbank.
For those interested, here's a basic overview that shows all of the groups who will be participating at this mammoth three day event. Please keep in mind times are approximate and this is not the performance order.
DIVISION 1 - Thursday 3/21 - 4PM - 9PM
Mixed Tier V - Orange Glen, Eisenhower, Montebello
Women Tier III - Orange Glen, Eisenhower, Montebello, Hart, Cypress
Women Tier II - Woodbridge, Esperanza, Pacifica, Burroughs, Serrano, Eastlake
DIVISION 2 - Friday 3/22 - 4PM - 8:00 PM
Middle School Womens - Oak, McAuliffe, Luther Burbank, Sowers Middle School
Middle School Mixed - McAuliffe, Luther Burbank, Sowers, Black Mountain, Alvarado, Travis Ranch
DIVISION 3 - Friday 3/22 8:30 - 11:30PM
Men - Oak MS, Burroughs
Women Tier I - Burbank, Burroughs, Hart, Bonita Vista
DIVISION 4 - Saturday 3/23 - 9:00 AM - 12:00PM
Mixed Tier IV - Bear River, Cypress, Duarte
Mixed Tier III - Eastlake, Los Altos, Burbank, Burroughs, Hart, Pacifica, Cypress
Just watched John Burroughs on youtube. A little different than they've done in years past and I didn't really love it. Don't get me wrong, they still awesome! But I just didn't enjoy it as much as I have the past 4 years.
Nice! (..I don't think the students really have much say in when or where they compete...)
I hope you know that was a very sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek comment. I didn't want his reply to take away from the point, though, that with two of the best groups in the country often competing together it will skew national "rankings" (for both groups), as compared to some other choirs who may outmatch the competition most of the time they compete.
I do think it's rather sad/unfortunate that some California groups (Burbank is not the only one) are getting started halfway through March these days. I'm not blaming the students at all; it just means those groups will only have a one-month competition season. For the amount of work these shows take (and the amount of fun it is to perform and watch!), I think everyone involved would like something longer than that.
Wheaton will win. They have this divine force in the show choir world. They will win.
This is why I love this competition. It's going to be so close, everyone's nerves are going to be jacked!! I think you could even more faithfully make this statement about Clinton at Wheaton (before they competed) though, and we saw how that turned out. Without knowing what Burbank will bring yet at all, I truly believe it's anyone's game.
I will say that Twinsburg's choreo is equally on par with Clinton this year; yes, they're THAT good. I think they could surprise some groups (seeing that most people have them fourth right now) and do very well here, although their vocals do struggle at times. If this doesn't go to Twinsburg by a landslide I will riot. Not kidding.
So, you really like Twinsburg's choreography? Ha, anyways, I've only seen Twinsburg via live feed and same with Clinton. While Twinsburg has terrific choreo that is super clean and all around solid, I don't think ANY show choir in the nation can match Clinton's high energy. Clinton is a dancing machine up on the stage. After all, people say "Clinton Clean" not "Twinsburg Clean". Just saying, I personally don't think Twinsburg is on Clinton's level and I think that's a fair opinion to have.
Also, Twinsburg won't win "Best Choreography" ... because that's not a caption at Los Al. They call it "Showmanship" out on the West Coast. And Twinsburg already lost that caption to Wheaton and Burbank and Burroughs usually have very appropriate choreography that fits with their story. It's not just choreo for the sake of choreo. I wouldn't be surprised if Twinsburg doesn't win the caption, but I would also not be surprised if they did win the caption...their theme is really cool and it is a great show.
Either way I think Twinsburg will really have to amp up their vocals if they hope to beat Burbank, Burroughs, or Wheaton. I see them in the 3RU spot as of now.
I'm not going to make predictions quite yet. But I've noticed that everyone has been ranking Homewood pretty low. I'd like to point out that they are the ONLY undefeated group left in the Southern circuit (after Clinton's 2nd place at Wheaton). I could see them contending for a higher placement.
Another point: Wheaton, Twinsburg, and Homewood are all used to performing during the daytime, advancing to finals and stepping up their game in the evening. Will the one-performance set up affect their game? I mean: no chances for do-overs and no previous run-throughs on that stage, while JB and Burbank compete there every year without finals.
I don't think that Homewood being the only undefeated show choir in the South holds much weight, especially when you're comparing their record to Clinton and the two didn't even go head-to-head. Being the only undefeated group in a region doesn't mean much when you haven't competed against the best in the region. They avoided both Clinton and Albertville. I think it's perfectly reasonable to place Homewood behind those groups. Especially since Homewood has only won BV once out of four competitions.
I'm also not sure that the one-and-done performance will matter that much. Some Midwest competitions don't hold Finals, although that's the minority, the Shelbyville Invitational (Indiana) this upcoming weekend isn't holding Finals and neither does Manteno Main Event (Illinois) ... just to name a couple. Also if you flip the situation around, that's like saying Burbank or Burroughs could struggle having a Finals performance, because they're only used to performing once. As proven in previous FAME events and the Crystal Classic, they have done just fine with two performances. Burbank's Finals performance is actually what won them the Fairfield Crystal Classic in 2011. The one-and-done performance won't effect the Midwest groups.
edit: just now saw above posts and they speak my mind as well.
lol. then there's homewood...
I read that in the tune of the 'Maude' theme song. And then there's Maude!
I like their set this year though, don't get me wrong. If Burbank's choreography is on par with their 2010/2011 stuff, I could see them taking showmanship.
Los Alamitos Xtravaganza (Day Three) 2013
The theme is Monopoly though!
